LIKE A SANDHILL CRANE TO WATER

Paul Tashjian, Director of Freshwater Conservation at Audubon Southwest, has been in the water business for three decades. However, it’s only in the last five years that the hydrologist transitioned to a role at Audubon. “I had a wonderful career with the Fish and Wildlife Service, but I was just looking for a new challenge,” says Tashjian. “I thought that working for a nonprofit like Audubon would be a good way to extend my passion for the rivers and the wildlife of New Mexico.”

Just like people, and even more so, the birds of New Mexico rely heavily upon our natural water resources. For Tashjian in his role as Director, this means bringing information about our rivers to the public as well as the more practical application: “We are very involved in efforts to try and keep water in the Rio Grande and keep water flowing at the right times,” says Tashjian. “The water is the backbone to the wildlife that evolved around there— we’re a bird agency, and there are a high variety of birds that use the Rio Grande.”

Birds may be Audubon’s focus, but Tashjian emphasizes that everything is interdependent, from beavers to birds to muskrats to frogs. “All of those animals are part of the system and I think they benefit from the activities (Audubon) does,” says Tashjian.

Seasons are also a major factor in NM birdlife. “In wintertime, Sandhill Cranes are very keyed into the river—they use it to roost at night for protection from predators,” says Tashjian. “In the summer there are a group of birds called neotropical birds that migrate from Central and South America; they start showing up in April, May, and June, and those birds all depend on a wet habitat in the Rio to nest.”

One such neotropical bird is called the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, and, contrary to its flashy name, is a small and neutrally-colored bird that’s currently endangered—now though we’re seeing more of it in the summer months in the middle Rio Grande.

There’s no doubt that Tashjian’s specialty lies in water conservation, but don’t think that stops him from having a passion for birds. “The Sandhill Crane is such a magical bird for me, and every year in October when you hear the first call of the crane and the birds start pouring in, it’s like clockwork,” says Tashjian.

Audubon may be a huge organization, but their work is aided by a slew of other organizations that help one another. “We have a great network of partners, and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our partnerships,” says Tashjian. “People like the irrigation district, the state agencies, or the citizens who live near different parts of the river; all of us try to work together to solve these incredibly challenging water problems.” —ET

Rio Grande Bird Factoids

COURTESY OF AUDUBON SW DIRECTOR OF BIRD CONSERVATION TICE SUPPLEE

HOW MANY BIRD SPECIES ARE FOUND IN NM? According to the New Mexico Ornithological Society, 552 species have been verified in New Mexico, including five established non-native species (identified as “Introduced”) and three species now extirpated (identified as “Extirpated”). Over 400 of these species are migratory.

HOW MANY OF THESE UTILIZE THE RIO GRANDE CORRIDOR FROM LAS CRUCES TO TAOS?

The Middle Rio Grande Valley is a major migration corridor. Thousands of birds will stop to rest and feed as they travel north. Over 30 species of waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes winter here and over 100 species will migrate through or arrive to nest in the cottonwood forests of the middle Rio Grande.

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT SPRING MIGRATION ALONG THE RIO GRANDE IN NM? Some spring migrants will begin showing up in March, about the same time when the Sandhill Cranes are leaving. The peak is in April and runs through May. The official North American migration count is the second Saturday in May. Hundreds of volunteers in the US and Canada count birds on that day. Audubon encourages Lights Out during this time of year to prevent migrating birds from striking the windows of buildings.